2024-11-22 18:09:00
Rapid HIV screening test, June 2018. CLAUDIO REYES / AFP
In 2023, nearly 5,500 new people will be diagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in France. This is an estimate from Public Health France (SPF) after correction of the raw number of seropositivity discovered (3,877 cases), in order to take into account the under-reporting of cases.
“For several years, the number of new HIV contaminations has no longer declined in France, even though we have all the tools to prevent transmission”lamented Professor Yazdan Yazdanpanah, director of the National Agency for AIDS Research-Emerging Infectious Diseases (ANRS-MIE), during a press conference on November 21.
That same day, eleven new recommendations on HIV care were presented at the annual congress of the French Society for the Fight against AIDS, in Biarritz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques). The three co-authors, the ANRS-MIE, the High Authority for Health (HAS) and the National AIDS Council (CNS), notably scrutinized several key points: social determinants of infection, preventive treatments, diagnosis and monitoring of people living with HIV, HIV and pregnancy, adaptation of antiretroviral treatments, etc.
43% of infections discovered at a late stage
Since 2012, the number of HIV discoveries has decreased by 10%. But if we except the year 2020, marked by a sharp drop linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, this number has stagnated since 2018 and has even rebounded since 2020.
“This increase particularly affects people born abroad”, note the experts, particularly women infected through heterosexual intercourse and men who have sex with men (MSM).
Another concern, in 2023, 43% of HIV infections were discovered at a late stage (between 200 and 350 CD4 cells per cubic millimeter of blood), including 27% at an advanced stage (AIDS stage), with less than 200 CD4 cells. per cubic millimeter of blood. Between contamination and diagnosis, the median time was 1.9 years for all people discovering their HIV status, and three years for heterosexual men born abroad.
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This delay is a loss of individual opportunity. It also increases the risk of viral transmission, an undiagnosed and untreated person being able to contaminate their partners. Conversely, “if the virus is undetectable in the blood, it is untransmissible, relève Yazdan Yazdanpanah. Screening therefore remains the primary prevention tool.”
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What are the key social determinants influencing HIV infection rates in France according to Professor Yazdanpanah?
**Interview with Professor Yazdan Yazdanpanah on HIV Trends and Recommendations in France**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Professor Yazdanpanah. There has been a concerning trend regarding HIV diagnoses in France. Can you tell us about the current situation?
**Professor Yazdan Yazdanpanah:** Thank you for having me. Yes, unfortunately, in 2023, we anticipate nearly 5,500 new HIV diagnoses in France. This figure has been adjusted from earlier raw data to address significant under-reporting. We find ourselves in a troubling position where the number of new infections has stagnated despite having effective prevention tools at our disposal [[1](https://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/hiv-screening)].
**Interviewer:** That sounds alarming. What do you attribute this stagnation to?
**Professor Yazdanpanah:** There are multiple factors at play. One critical issue is the social determinants of health that contribute to infection rates. Disparities in access to education, healthcare, and resources can significantly impact the effectiveness of our prevention strategies. We’ve observed that 43% of new infections are diagnosed at a late stage, which complicates treatment outcomes and increases the risk of transmission [[1](https://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/hiv-screening)].
**Interviewer:** At the recent congress of the French Society for the Fight against AIDS, new recommendations were presented. Can you highlight some of these key recommendations?
**Professor Yazdanpanah:** Certainly. Our new recommendations focus on various vital areas, including:
– Addressing social factors that contribute to infection.
– Enhancing access to preventive treatments and regular testing.
– Improving the diagnosis and monitoring protocols for people living with HIV.
– Special considerations for HIV in pregnancy.
– Adapting antiretroviral treatments to better respond to the needs of individuals based on their unique circumstances.
These recommendations are designed to create a more holistic approach to HIV care and prevention [[1](https://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/hiv-screening)].
**Interviewer:** The progress seems slow despite these developments. What steps can individuals take to protect themselves and reduce the risk of spreading HIV?
**Professor Yazdanpanah:** Individuals can take several proactive steps:
– Get tested regularly for HIV, particularly if they belong to high-risk categories.
– Use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) if they are at increased risk of HIV infection.
– Educate themselves and others about HIV transmission and prevention.
- Ensure that people living with HIV adhere to their treatment, as effective antiretroviral therapy can reduce the viral load to undetectable levels, effectively eliminating the risk of transmission.
Routine screening is essential in our fight against HIV, and we encourage everyone to take control of their health [[1](https://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/hiv-screening)].
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Professor Yazdanpanah, for your insights and for sharing these important recommendations. It seems that while we face challenges, there are clear paths forward to combat the HIV epidemic in France.
**Professor Yazdanpanah:** Thank you. It’s vital that we continue to advocate for comprehensive healthcare strategies and ensure that everyone has access to the resources they need to stay healthy and informed.
